Where's the beef? Arby's to go "vegetarian" for a day

By Kate Gibson

Updated on: February 26, 2016 / 12:18 PM
/ MoneyWatch

Arby's says it is offering an olive branch to vegetarians by offering meatless versions of its meat-laden sandwiches for a day, but the gimmick is unlikely to go over well with the non-carnivore crowd. That's because the Leap Day menu is literally the same as usual, only without the meat.

The fast food chain's vegetarian version of its roast beef sandwich, for instance, is a toasted sesame seed bun.

"At Arby's, we're proud of our meats, but we also understand that meat isn't for everyone," Rob Lynch, chief marketing officer and brand president of Arby's Restaurant Group, said in a statement. "So we've decided to give vegetarians a reason to visit Arby's on Leap Day by offering a one-day menu designed specifically for them. If it goes well, we'll likely bring back the vegetarian menu on Feb. 29 each year."

Lynch's suggestion that Arby's would revive the vegetarian menu each year on Feb. 29 is clearly tongue-in-check, given the next leap year comes in 2020.

Arby's regular meat-packed menu will also be available as usual, the company said.